"Put on the goggles—yes, just like that. And… when we encounter others, do not speak first. If something puzzles you, whisper it to me alone. Understood?"
Otto issued his instructions with meticulous care. Though Cecilia grasped none of the reasons, she nodded with docile obedience.
"Once your memories fully return, I shall hold a grand press conference," he murmured gently. "Let the world know you have come back to us. But for now, since forcing recollections brings you pain, we must keep you concealed—to prevent any mishaps in the public eye. Is that all right?"
"Okay~"
After Cecilia slipped into her shoes and gave a little stomp to confirm the fit, Otto stepped back and surveyed her anew.
Perfect. The nun's habit veiled her alluring form; the goggles obscured her delicate features. If one disregarded that transcendent saintly aura, she appeared as nothing more than a pure, bewildered innocent.
Later, he could weave a subtle thread of Taixuan feathers to cloud onlookers' perceptions—no soul would ever suspect.
"Smile."
"???"
Cecilia tilted her head in puzzlement, yet the corners of her lips lifted faintly all the same.
Click.
"Done." Otto pocketed his terminal, having unashamedly captured the moment. "When you face others, simply offer this bewildered Kaslana smile."
Cecilia: "…"
Something felt amiss, yet she held her tongue.
"Let us go. We shall wander Schicksal Headquarters first. If anything stirs a memory, speak of it. If your head begins to ache, cease striving—relaxation matters more."
Otto extended his hand, curling his fingers around her slender, jade-like fingertips.
Her pads were cool yet exquisitely smooth; a gentle press revealed delightful resilience.
He led Cecilia through the door, and winter's crisp embrace greeted them.
It was the day after the winter solstice. Icy winds howled from distant polar seas, traversing mountains and oceans—only to be gently rebuffed by Schicksal's climate wards.
Of course, the floating celestial city that was Schicksal Headquarters reveled in ever-shifting weather and vistas year-round. Every high-altitude wonder lent its unique charm.
Yet never biting blizzards that encased the base in ice, nor lightning that ravaged vital machinery.
Still, the air bore winter's sharp arrival. Adrift among the clouds, sunlight lingered—though it offered scant warmth. It slanted lazily across the grounds, like an indolent worker shirking duties.
Cecilia exhaled softly, staring in blank fascination as white mist bloomed from her lips, then dispersed against her cheeks as she walked. A swirling gust returned, tousling her hair.
Instinctively, she tucked her chin and edged closer to Otto.
Few souls stirred about—scattered figures coming and going. Some even brushed past Otto as though he were invisible. He paid it no heed, naturally.
"A touch desolate…" Otto remarked.
He recalled a fragment from the Book of Wei: strolling with Cecilia once, she had suddenly mused whether Schicksal Headquarters might summon a vast snowfall at year's end, allowing the stationed Valkyries to savor true winter spirit.
Yet a piercing gust had struck immediately after, forcing her to crouch and clutch her head. She had then listlessly abandoned the notion.
Her expression in that moment…
Otto turned to regard Cecilia, who was quietly shrinking into herself.
Mm, that timid demeanor mirrored the past precisely.
He smiled faintly, gently squeezing her hand—sliding from fingertips to cradle the base of her fingers.
The captured jade hand tensed briefly, offering a shy wiggle before yielding and settling into stillness.
Otto's lips curved higher. He continued guiding Cecilia through the tour, narrating as they wandered.
"Schicksal Headquarters is a floating fortress, eternally suspended above the Mediterranean. It gazes down upon the world from sublime heights."
"The fortress spans unimaginably vast—comparable to certain coastal isles. One might call it a colossal airborne archipelago."
"It forms Schicksal's administrative core and premier research haven, laboring ceaselessly toward the crusade against Honkai."
"Those distant ports serve as primary gateways to Headquarters. Each is vigilantly guarded by Valkyries and towering mecha."
Valkyries?
Colossal mecha?
A faint spark of familiarity flickered in Cecilia. She tilted her head curiously.
Otto paused at the perfect instant, feigning reminiscence.
"I still recall how we nicknamed the divine machine Heimdall 'Fatty Sea.' When it overloaded, we dubbed it Dr. Lobster."
Lobster…
An image of a crimson arthropod flashed through Cecilia's mind. She envisioned it magnified manifold, menacingly brandishing claws before her—and let out a soft, involuntary "pfft" of laughter.
Amnesia, yet not absolute.
She remembered lobsters—just not Dr. Lobster.
Otto glanced sideways, catching the mirth curving her eyes, and understood at once.
He pressed onward, leading Cecilia through Schicksal Headquarters, unveiling its wonders one by one.
"This is the divine machine Badr…"
"This is Schicksal's central laboratory…"
"This is…"
Before long, guided with deliberate intent, they arrived at the heart of the complex.
Amber appeared to have been awaiting them. She offered a subtle bow.
"Overseer, the meal you requested has been prepared and delivered to your office."
"It feels an eternity since I last dined," Otto sighed. "Ah, the same for Cecilia."
Amber nodded.
"Since transferring to the SoulSteel body, Lord Overseer, it has been twelve hours and fifty-three minutes since your last sustenance."
"After such duration, eating and drinking have become mere habit rather than necessity," Otto remarked as he entered the office. He glanced at the spread upon the desk, his lips dipping for an instant. "Oh, right—next time, replace the red wine with pearl milk tea."
"Understood, Lord Overseer. But when wine loses its appeal, please pour it properly rather than shattering the glass. Shards upon the floor and stains upon the curtains prove troublesome to clean."
"…"
Otto fell silent—and mentally tallied a demerit against his diligent secretary.
"By the way, Lord Overseer," Amber continued from the doorway after Cecilia had entered, "the Oath of Judah you requisitioned from St. Freya Academy will arrive tomorrow morning. Additionally, Lady Durandal appears to have matters requiring your attention."
"The Oath of Judah… Durandal… Noted."
When Amber uttered the name of the 11th Divine Key, Otto deliberately glanced at Cecilia's countenance. The woman's brows furrowed deeply, as though grappling with some elusive recollection, yet her eyes remained vacant.
"Have Rita command a Valkyrie squad to escort it safely. Fu Hua is to lead another and stand ready," Otto instructed thoughtfully. "Upon the 11th Divine Key's arrival at Schicksal, deliver it to me without delay. Then direct Fu Hua and the Valkyries to eradicate every experimental subject in St. Freya's basement—leave nothing intact."
"Furthermore, initiate a global sweep for any intelligence pertaining to 'snake,' 'Stigmata Project,' and related terms. No detail overlooked."
"This is paramount, Amber. Should we falter, we shall confront a formidable organization both capable—and eager—of toppling humanity itself."